Polytunnels for CP farmers

Priyanka KURUGALA

"The Agricultural Ministry has drawn up a plan to provide polytunnels to farmers in the Central Province.

"Polytunnels will help farmers cultivate short-term vegetables and protect them from the rain, said Agricultural Ministry Additional Secretary Shantha Amitiyagoda. "Amitiyagoda said a polytunnels will cost around Rs 25,000.

"The Ministry has plans to grow tomatoes, chillies and okra. A single polytunnel will cover around 500 square metres, he said. "The target of the Agricultural Ministry is to provide vegetables to the market as early as possible.

The structure for polytunnels should be made by farmers," he said.

"These polytunnels are Ultra Violet.

Therefore this material can be used for more than 10 years, he said.

Agricultural Department, Horticulture Research and Development Institute Director K B Wahundeniya is the coordinator of this project.